Sudden flood sweeps through northern Nepal, alert issued

On Wednesday morning, a sudden and massive flood ravaged northern Nepal, causing significant damage in border settlements and placing several downstream districts on high alert, officials reported. The flood emerged from the Bhote Koshi River around 9 am, believed to have originated in Tibet. The rapid rise in water led to widespread destruction in Timure ᨊin Rasuwa district and the nearby Syafrubesi area, with vehicles, goods, and property swept away, the Nepal Army reported.

Rasuwa district, located northeast of Kathmandu, is situated 125 km from the Tibetan border. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Nepal has called for residents near riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitawan, and Gorkha to remain vigilant and take safety measures until further notice. Rasuwa's Assistant Chief District Officer, Dhruva Prasad Adhikari, emphasized the unusual severity of the flooding, noting that both settlements sustained substantial damage.

Rajendra Dhungana, the Chief Customs Officer, stated that numerous vehicles and goods at the customs premises were carried away, and a recently built bridge was destroyed. The Prime Minister's Office revealed that the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police personnel have been deployed in Rasuwa and surrounding areas to intensify rescue and relief operations.

A high-level meeting is scheduled to deliberate on the situation and devise necessary measures to address the aftermath of the flood. The Nepal Army has dispatched two helicopters to regions near the Trishuli River to conduct search and rescue operations, with an Army helicopter equipped with an Emergency Medical Rescue Team already en route to the district hospital in Trishuli.

However, the full extent of the damage remains unknown as data collection on the destruction is ongoing, according to the Nepal Army. The flood's cause is believed to be the sudden release of a previously undetected supraglacial lake, similar to two catastrophic floods that struck Bhotekoshi last year, killing at least ten people.

The flood was attributed to the sudden draining of the lake, as reported by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, which noted that Wednesday's flooding was not caused by rain in Rasuwa.